A three-and-half-year long medical program called “BSc in Community Health” has been approved by Medical Council of India (MCI). The program shall be open for Class 12 passed students. Selection of students would be based on merit in the Class 12 examination with physics, chemistry and biology as subjects. The course shall commence next year in April. The syllabus for the course is already ready and the Ministry of Health is now to make a formal announcement.

According the scheme which was announced by the MCI Board Chairman, this special cadre of health workers will be trained mainly in district hospitals, be placed in sub-centres or primary health centres and will be taught “some module of clinical work”. can actually diagnose and treat basic medical cases, get involved in immunization programs and administer extended first aid.

The new health cadre as a career progression incentive, may be promoted to the level of public health officers after 10 years of service, an official said.

The panel, however, clarified that the course is not a mini-MBBS but rather a unique training program aimed at the basic health care needs of its target population.